Vanilla is one of the most common flavours for sweet treats around the world. But is the farming of this much-loved spice sustainable? And, if not, should we be consuming it at all?
The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is facing major pushback from ministers and trade organisations within Europe, alongside continued pressure from palm oil producer nations in Asia, casting doubt on hopes for a smooth implementation.
Similar to the European Union's deforestation measures to tackle deforestation linked to commodity imports, the UK government has announced a new global deforestation law, but Fairtrade is concerned about the extra costs to farmers.
The European Union (EU) has signalled its intent to delay the most controversial parts of its anti-deforestation regulation (EUDR) after protests by governments in Asia, Africa, and Latin America described the low, standard, or high-risk benchmarking...
Plant-for-the-Planet has launched a free app that smallholder farmers can use to check their own farms and share their data with trading partners – and know within minutes whether they can continue importing into the EU under its new deforestation regulations.
The Rainforest Alliance certification platform has called for more support for smallholder cocoa farmers to ensure they are not unintentionally excluded from the EU market under the new deforestation regulations.
The European Union, the largest market for cocoa from West Africa, will begin implementing its new regulation this year on deforestation-free products that require companies selling commodities, including cocoa, to prove they have not caused deforestation...
As many know, the cocoa industry is sometimes opaque and complex. Still, confessed chocolate-lover Jon Trask, who is also CEO of Dimitra, says his company's recently developed Blockchain Deforestation Platform could provide a solution to help farmers...
The cocoa and chocolate making industry has been warned that cocoa stocks languishing in EU warehouses during the 18-month transition period leading up to the European Union’s Deforestation law that kicks in at the end of December 2024 may have to be...
With enforcement of a new deforestation law on the horizon, stakeholders along the food supply chain and working to ensure compliance. We look at the new tools and services being developed that promise enhanced traceability and due diligence.
Fairtrade International has announced a new partnership with Satelligence to scale up satellite monitoring of forested areas and farms to its globally certified cocoa and coffee producer organisations to meet new EU regulations.
Indigenous rights must be ‘at the centre’ of new EU policies looking to stamp out environmental and human rights violations from food supply chains, argues indigenous advocate Edson Krenak from NGO Cultural Survival.
The European Union has urged Cote d’Ivoire to ramp up its efforts regarding the traceability of its cocoa if the country is going to meet the criteria of the EU deforestation law that comes into effect in January 2025.
International soft commodities exchange has announced it has launched a new Traceability Service to support cocoa suppliers and other commodities, such as coffee and sugar, affected by the EU Deforestation Regulation.
Tradin Organic, a Netherlands-based certified organic food ingredients supplier for the food sector, claims it can help chocolate manufacturers, brands and retailers navigate the new EU laws on deforestation by sharing access with its clients to all data...
As new research reveals that deforestation in the world’s largest cocoa-growing country could be far more worse than originally predicted, a White Paper published by Barry Callebaut looks how to tackle productivity on cocoa farms to end the cycle of unsustainable...
A conference involving The Platform for Sustainable Cocoa, the Soy and Palm Oil Network and the Coffee Interest Group was recently held in Bern Switzerland to develop new tougher measures for the conservation of tropical forests.
Food and beverage firms are struggling to meet deforestation related key performance indicators (KPIs) set by environmental disclosure not-for-profit CDP, new data has shown.
The European Parliament has formally adopted a new law to fight global deforestation with cocoa, coffee, palm-oil, soya, wood, rubber, charcoal printed paper products and cattle covered by the new rules, which obliges companies to ensure products sold...
Fresh data released by transparency initiative Trase reveals that cocoa farming swallowed 2.4 million ha of forest in Côte d’Ivoire between 2000 and 2019, an area almost the size of Rwanda. This represents 45% of the total deforestation and forest degradation...
Ahead of this week’s trilogue negotiations on the EU’s Deforestation Regulation, the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (IPOA/GAPKI) has complained the legislation “will increase poverty, decrease sustainable development, and undermine decades of progress...
The EU’s recent approval of its controversial deforestation regulation is expected to drive up the cost of palm oil and other affected commodities, and thus food and beverage prices, amid ongoing inflationary pressures that have already affected a majority...
A new partnership has been launched by Fairtrade International, Fairtrade Africa, and non-profit organization Earthworm Foundation, pledging to work together to monitor deforestation and assess environmental vulnerability.
The European Council has backed Commission proposals designed to combat deforestation linked to consumer goods sold in the region – but with some important carve-outs. As environmentalists accuse EU Environment Ministers of ‘significantly watering down’...
Nestlé said it will continue to work with all stakeholders to ‘help protect and restore forests, promote sustainable cocoa production and thriving communities, and create a forest positive future for all’.
Dialogue between The Cocoa Coalition (CC) and the European Commission and EU member states is continuing with news that the CC welcomes latest proposals by the governments of Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana for an Economic Pact for Sustainable Cocoa.
The Rainforest Alliance, CDP, Clarmondial, Conservation International, and USAID announce a transformational public-private ‘Business Case’ partnership to reduce cocoa and other commodity-driven deforestation, and contribute to global climate and biodiversity...
The Cocoa Coalition of chocolate companies - Ferrero, Hershey, Mars Wrigley, Mondelēz International, Nestle, and Tony's Chocolonely - alongside Fairtrade International and Rainforest Alliance, broadly welcomes any new EU legislation regarding the...
The ‘Cocoa Coalition' of companies, NGOs, certification organisations and multistakeholder organisations has welcomed the European Commission’s (EC) publication of its proposed regulation on deforestation.
The European Food Information Council (EUFIC) examined the science behind the cancer study that has caused an uproar in the media recently and has cautioned not to read the headlines out of context.
The European Cocoa Association (ECA) has issued a statement on new EU regulation proposals to tackle the issues of deforestation, but calls for an 'adequate transition period'.
The European Parliament has said companies supplying products that risk contributing to deforestation will be ‘monitored and held accountable’ through new due diligence regulations. But farming groups have raised concerns that the new regulation might...
‘This COP’s outcome is in many ways a cop out, a frustrating conclusion to this summit filled with hope that we would see a start to the healing of our world… said Mary Kinyua, responding to the outcome of the Glasgow summit.
Palm oil producer Musim Mas, oil supplier AAK and branded manufacturer Nestlé are collaborating to tackle deforestation outside concession areas in Aceh, Indonesia.
Increased understanding of cocoa farmers is required if the chocolate industry is to meet its forest restoration and net carbon zero targets, says Earthworm Foundation’s Gerome Tokpa
Biochar, known as ‘agriculture's black gold’ is made from agricultural waste, such as weeds, leaves and cocoa pods, and can be used as a natural fertilizer to improve soil quality.
Ethan Budiansky, the World Cocoa Foundation’s Director of Environment, shares some of the findings from the CFI’s latest reports and explains why ‘getting more trees in the ground’ is important.
Nestlé has said it has made ‘good progress’ over the past 12 months in advancing its forest positive agenda on its cocoa farms in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire.
Barry Callebaut says it is committed to ending deforestation in the cocoa and chocolate industry as part of its actions in the months and years ahead, which are highlighted in its the Cocoa & Forests Initiative (CFI) Progress Report 2020.
Over the past three decades, the rate of deforestation around the world has noticeably declined. This comes against an ever-increasing societal pressure from consumers and governments for more sustainable food products, which applies to everything from...
The Fairtrade Foundation has cautiously welcomed the UK government’s new Environment Bill, which includes measures prohibiting UK firms from selling products linked to illegal deforestation overseas.
Interview with Satelligence founder and CEO, Niels Wielaard
Satelligence is a new company that specializes in assessing patterns and trends in forests, agriculture and water, providing highly detailed satellite images for mapping purposes to help combat deforestation.
Nestlé has partnered with NGO Earthworm and government agencies on the ground to preserve what is left of the Cavally forest reserve in Côte d’Ivoire. FoodNavigator speaks to Earthworm’s country head Gerome Tokpa to learn more illegal cocoa plantations...
